ARCHIVED - Integrated Strategy on Healthy Living and Chronic Diseases - Knowledge Development and Exchange Functional Component

Recommendations

The following recommendations have been made to strengthen the KD&E Functional Component design and effectiveness:

1. Strengthen the integration of the ISHLCD and resource it appropriately. There is agreement on the ISHLCD mission and on the relevance of finding ways to change behaviour such that there will be improvement in healthy living behaviour by Canadians with a resultant reduction in chronic disease.  There is a need for stronger coordination, clarity in roles and better integration within ISHLCD in CCDPC, CHP and PHAC Regional Offices.
2. Clarify KD&E scope of mandate and roles and responsibilities in relation to other Functional Components and KD&E work overall in CCDPC. This also should include expanded emphasis on conducting, supporting and synthesizing intervention research. There is a need to clarify the scope of KD&E Functional Component work versus broad KD&E work of CCDPC and PHAC. This also should include expanded emphasis on conducting, supporting and synthesizing intervention research. There needs to be true partnership with other levels of government, with research organizations and with NGOs in order for effective knowledge exchange to take place.
3. Clarify and describe the program theory for the various KD&E initiatives and program areas including greater emphasis on knowledge exchange, capacity building for uptake and learning from practice. A clear description of program theory for the various KD&E initiatives and program areas is needed to better define action-impact including anticipated outputs and outcomes for each initiative. Given the importance of the several components (elements, action approaches, Functional Components), a revised program theory would recognize important program dimensions such as the political jurisdiction environments, the responsibility loci and the accountability framework.
4. Institute a performance measurement strategy for KD&E that supports evaluation of the Component as well as the ISHLCD overall. It is recommended that an ongoing performance measurement strategy (PMS) be developed for the Component. A KD&E Functional Component PMS can build on the data base instituted for the KD&E File Reviews.  The development of a PMS would benefit from a clear description of (a) the program’s operations and (b) the outputs expected to result from these activities.  The development of a process flow chart, or charts, is strongly recommended.
5. Begin now to plan for the KD&E outcome evaluation. It is recommended that the planning for a future evaluation and data collection begin immediately and that the focus be on relevance and performance as defined in the evaluation policy.  In-depth evaluations of particular initiatives should be planned and implemented soon including some mixed methods data collection such as case studies of target audiences.
6. Institute better communication mechanisms both internally between different divisions and the KD&E initiatives and externally with key stakeholders.